Missing 3-year-old found safe in Illinois cornfield

ALTAMONT – A south-central Illinois 3-year-old has been found safe in a cornfield after a nearly three-hour search.

The Effingham Daily News reports (http://bit.ly/1srmUNp ) Altamont firefighters responded to a report Thursday that Alexie Followell was missing from her home. Her mother and grandmother had last seen her in the family's detached garage.

First responders from nearby towns and Effingham County helped search the cornfield behind the family's house. About 60 volunteers walked the rows of corn to look for the girl below the ears. Planes and drones were also used in the search.

Two Altamont firefighters eventually heard her crying and found her about one eighth of a mile from the house. That's about 80 rows of corn.